Hotelkeeper Fined £30 And Licence Endorsed

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28098, 13 October 1956, Page 2

Hotelkeeper Fined £30 And Licence Endorsed

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

George Humphries, licensee of the Yaldhurst Hotel, was convicted and fined £3O by . Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of opening his premises for the sale of liquor after hours on August 10. The Magistrate ordered that a record of the conviction be endorsed on Humphries’s licence and also on the register.

The case was heard on Thursday when Humphries, who was represented by Mr R. A. Young, pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate then said that a conviction \\Mild be entered and he stood the matter over to yesterday morning for penalty. When the case was called yesterday the Magistrate asked for proof of the register of licences. The Registrar of the Magistrate’s Court (Mr E. G. Tyler), clerk of licensing committees, produced the register of licences. He said that the Yaldhurst Hotel was in the Selwyn Licensing District and George Hector Humphries was the licensee. The Magistrate inspected the entries in the register. “Humphries, you have had five previous convictions for breaches of the Licensing Act in respect of this hotel,” said the Magistrate. ‘‘Three of these convictions were in the last three years. One of them was on February 16 of this year. Had it been* in the six months’ period I would, without a doubt, today forfeit your licence. The law does not permit me to do that in the present circumstances but I propose to endorse your licence.

“You are convicted and fined £3O and as part of the penalty I order that a record of the conviction be endorsed on your licence and on the register.” said the Magistrate. PROBATION FOR THEFT Lois Askew, aged 60. a widow (Mr J. B. Weir), appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing goods, valued at 10s ll|d. the property of Woolworths (N.Z.) Ltd. She was convicted and admitted to probation for two years, special conditions being that she makes restitution and follows the suggestions set out in an alienists report. Mr Weir said he wholeheartedly supported the Probation Officer’s report. It was a most unusual and courageous one, but a very proper one in view of the alienist’s report. “If you offend again or do not comply with the terms of your probation you will be brought here for sentence on the present charge. I so direct and, if I am here, before me and I shall know what to do with you. This is your last chance.” said the Magistrate. (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) THEFT OF PETROL Arthur Gordon, aged 18, a freezing worker. Bernard Arthur Gordon, aged 21, a freezing worker, and Alfred Thomas Vincent, aged 18, a farmhand, pleaded guilty to a charge that on

October 3, at Kaiapoi, they stole eight gallons of petrol, a four-gallon tin, and a funnel, valued at £1 15s, the property of Charles Henry Goodman.

They were remanded on bail to October 19 for a Probation Officer’s report and sentence. Senior-Detective J. B. McLean said that on October 4 Goodman reported to the police that the implement shed on his farm had been forced open and petrol and a tin stolen. Constables Harris and Highsted, of Kaiapoi, interviewed a young man an 1 found the tin and funnel in his car. This young man refused to make any explanation. Detectives Bamber and Mitchell made inquiries, and the three accused were interviewed. They admitted being passengers in a fourth man’s car. When this man said he was short of petrol Vincent said he knew where to get some petrol, and he and Bernard Gordon went to Goodman’s shed, filled a four-gallon tin with petrol, which they put in the tank of the fourth man’s car. They filled the tin again with petrol and put the tin and funnel in the car. Arthur Gordon and the fourth man. it was alleged, stayed in the car and kept watch. The three accused had no previous convictions. TRAFFIC OFFENCES

The following prosecutions for breaches of the traffic regulations were brought by the police, and penalties were imposed as stated: — Using a motor-vehicle without due care and attention: Vernon Clarence Barker, £3: Henry Alfred Holmes. £3; Sydney Desmond Pope, £6; Thomas Godfrey Robinson, £5 (no warrant of fitness, £1).

Failing to give way: Thomas Warren Forrester, £5; Stanley James Mundy, £4: Francis Joseph William Patrick, £4; Frank Renwick, £3. Clement Peter Rondel, £2; Max Galvin Ireland, £2 (using unlicensed vehicle, £4: no warrant of fitness, £1; incorrect registration plate, £4). Failing to stop after an accident: David Wilkins, £5 (failing to give way, £4). Using unregistered motor-vehicle: Winstone Raymond Swift, £5 (no warrant of fitness, £1; no driver’s licence, £1). Case dismissed: Joan Mary Hill (Mr K. J. McMenamin) pleaded not guilty to failing to give way. The charge was dismissed. REMANDED Victor Horton Wilson, aged 19, a workman (Mr H. S. Thomas), who pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing petrol, a tin. and a funnel, valued at £1 15s. the property of Charles Henry Goodman, on October 3 at Kaiapoi, was remanded on ball to October 18. (Before Mr E. A. Lee, S.M.)

Failing to give way: Malcolm Robert Hamilton, £2 (no warrant of fitness, costs only); James Markotich. £2 (no warrant of fitness. £1).